Continued from page 1I am presently studying a phenomenon that all parrot owners seem to have experienced and I can only refer to it as the "Not Today Syndrome". We've all experienced it and can relate to the same scenario...it's a good day for a shower, you get everything ready, you get the bird and start the process of bathing it and the bird simply is not interested! Why? I have several theories on this, but have come to no definite conclusions as yet. Particularly for me, it is very frustrating to get all ready to bathe a bird and have it sit there like it has a steel plate in its head. It's the "why?" thing again. (Our parrots certainly provide us with a lot of "why's", don't they?) In bathing any bird it is best to give it the option of bathing or not bathing. Never force water on to your bird or follow it with water if it indicates that it does not desire a shower. Remember that in its natural habitat the bird would be able to retreat under the canopy to keep from getting wet when it doesn't want to be wet. Also, when your cockatoo displays good showering behavior and wants to be soaked it will indicate this through its body posture and movements. My Cacatua alba became a master bather over a period of time after he came to live with me and would indicate that he wanted more water after the water was removed by waving his head in the normal cockatoo fashion and searching the "skies" for more rain to fall. This was enough of an indication for me that he required a lengthy shower due to this display. This bird is a mature cock of eleven years and has never plucked a feather. Frequent howers! Possibly the key element to fully feathered cockatoos?
There are a variety of methods used by individuals to shower their cockatoos. I would suggest utilizing the tub or shower stall area as it will contain the water you will need to put out for a large cockatoo. T-stands or shower perches in these areas work very well by giving the bird a secure perch. To increase the area for the "stroll" of the cockatoo during the shower I suggest using a tension rod that expands across the entire tub area. Spray bottles tend to work fine, but spraying the cockatoo with the spray bottle was the impetus that led me to develop Showerbird. I felt like I had to run that Umbrella through the car wash for him to get an adequate bath! If you have a good adjustable shower head that will produce a spray that works well for the bird, by all means give it a try. The force should not frighten the bird and the volume of water should be within limits that will get the bird wet.
Another question that is often presented is, " How often we should shower our birds?" In investigating the natural habitats and the rainfall averages in these areas one will discover that there is a rainy and dry season. Although the dry season is not what we would consider "dry" there is less rainfall than during the rainy season. Dry seasons in these areas will still have adequate amounts of rainfall. Travelers to these regions of the world report that during the rainy season the roads that were there yesterday may not be there today. Imagine that much water! Keeping this in mind you may want to give your birds a rainy and dry season. Showering a bird daily is wonderful if your schedule allows for this type of commitment. For a "rainy season" I suggest a shower three to four times per week and a "dry season" with showers one to three times per week. Keep in mind that the breeding season for most psittacine species is during the rainy season in their distribution ranges, which indicates that water is an integral part of a parrot's very existence. If you have a parrot of any species that is easily stimulated sexually, you may want to limit the number of showers during the bird's normal breeding cycle. Breeders have learned that frequent showering during the breeding season of their birds increases nesting activity and stimulates egg production. And we thought that showering them simply made them look good!
Properly caring for the cockatoo in our environment should include the frequent shower. The cuddly, affection-starved nature of these birds draws many an individual toward cockatoo ownership and the petting and stroking of the bird can leave dirt and oil from our hands on the feathers. Don't stop petting your 'Too, but see to it that they receive a good bath to keep the feathers in good condition. Simply because your cockatoo was domestically bred does not eradicate nearly 35 million years of evolutionary development in areas with rainfall averages that are difficult for us to comprehend. Perhaps the time has come for us to look at these wonderful creatures in an attempt to determine what we have been missing in their care and support. The showering of the 'Too is the primary step toward a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted companion and your cockatoo friend will appreciate your efforts. That is, when it is not experiencing the "not today syndrome". On those days we can only wonder "why not?"
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